Louniel Waterfall

Louniel Village, Tafea Province, Vanuatu

About Louniel Waterfall


Hiking Distance: tour; 1.5km hiking
Suggested Time: 5.5 hours

Date first visited: 2014-11-27
Date last visited: 2014-11-27

Waterfall Latitude: -19.42798
Waterfall Longitude: 169.33842

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Louniel Waterfall (I’ve also seen it spelled Lenuanatuaiu Waterfall) was really our waterfalling excuse to praise the Mt Yasur Volcano, which like the waterfall was also on Tanna Island.

That said, it turned out that the falls itself was no slouch as it was probably the most vertical and classical of the waterfalls we had visited during our short trip to Vanuatu.

Louniel_040_11262014 - The Louniel Waterfall
The Louniel Waterfall

Thus, we found it to be one of the more photogenic and unspoiled waterfalls that we’ve come across.

A further bonus was that we got to cool off from the tropical heat and humidity in the cool spray and plunge pool of the falls itself.

On top of that, we even got to enjoy the Louniel Beach, which was a black sand beach where the South Pacific Ocean pounded Tanna Island’s eastern shores.

So all around, Julie and I were quite pleasantly surprised with this visit, and yet it was merely the opening act to the twilight spectacle that was the unforgettable Mt Yasur.

Convenient Logistics

The thing about the Louniel Waterfall excursion was that we managed to do it in the morning while doing the Mt Yasur Volcano in the twlight hours.

Whitegrass_026_11252014 - We booked our visit to the Louniel Waterfall through our accommodation at the Whitegrass Resort on Tanna Island
We booked our visit to the Louniel Waterfall through our accommodation at the Whitegrass Resort on Tanna Island

We really didn’t have a choice since we only had one full day on Tanna Island given the infrequent flight schedules.

I believe they only flew three times a week between Port Vila and the White Grass Airport on Tanna.

In hindsight, I can imagine that had we been able to spend another night on Tanna Island, we probably could have visited at least one or two more waterfalls.

We might have even been able to partake in a kava drinking ceremony, but I digress.

The bottom line was that the Louniel Waterfall excursion was certainly worthwhile and it definitely fit within a day that included a visit to Yasur at twilight.

Louniel_105_11262014 - Looking out towards the Louniel Beach after our visit to the Louniel Waterfall
Looking out towards the Louniel Beach after our visit to the Louniel Waterfall

After booking our tour through the resort (we had stayed near the airport mostly for logistical reasons), we were then picked up the following morning at about 8am.

There was some uncertainty regarding whether we’d be done with our excursion before the Mt Yasur departure time of 2:30pm or 3pm.

However, it turned out that we made it back to our accommodation at White Grass by 1:30pm, which was plenty of time to have a late lunch before our tour to Mt Yasur.

So I guess depending on how much time one would want to spend at the beach, the duration of the Louniel Waterfall and Louniel Beach excursion could easily be as little as 4.5 hours or as long as 6.5 hours.

Our driver seemed pretty flexible.

The Louniel Waterfall Excursion

Louniel_010_11262014 - Starting the hike down to the Louniel Waterfall past this banyan tree
Starting the hike down to the Louniel Waterfall past this banyan tree

So after being picked up from the resort, we then were driven on a fairly dusty and bumpy road towards the eastern side of Tanna Island.

After roughly 30 minutes on the unsealed road, we then went onto a much narrower and rougher bush road leading to the Louniel Village.

That was when we were greeted by three local kids from the village who turned out to be our guides.

After a few more minutes of driving on “roads” that seemed more like a foot path than a place a 4wd could go, the car then stopped at a somewhat unmarked and unassuming spot in the jungle (roughly an hour from the time we left the resort).

Louniel_011_11262014 - Following our youthful guides to the Louniel Waterfall
Following our youthful guides to the Louniel Waterfall

At that point, the driver stayed behind and we followed the three kids on a steep downhill path going right into a thick bush-clad gorge.

We had worn reef shoes on this excursion so we had to tread carefully on the steep and potentially slippery trail, but the kids were either barefoot or in flip-flops, which attested to how well they have adapted to their environment.

Roughly 15 minutes later, we made it to the bottom of the trail, which was right in front of the impressively tall Louniel Waterfall (possibly 20-30m in height).

We had probably spent the better part of an hour cooling off in the cold stream at the base of the falls.

Louniel_031_11262014 - A tripod aided photo of Louniel Waterfall
A tripod aided photo of Louniel Waterfall

Meanwhile, the kids were busy playing in the water as well as showing us how they could catch fish with their bare hands.

Since this was more of a traditional hike (as opposed to a river float or swimming excursion), we were able to bring a tripod along with my DSLR camera to capture the action.

For once, a dry bag wasn’t necessary.

After having our fill of the falls, we then returned to the awaiting truck after 15 minutes of heavy breathing from the all-uphill climb.

Louniel_114_11262014 - On the wet sands of Louniel Beach
On the wet sands of Louniel Beach

At that point, we were then driven onto a different bush track that eventually led to a clearing surrounded by palm trees with coconuts as well as grazing cows.

And from there, we hiked down another 15 minutes to the black sand Louniel Beach, where we would relax for the next hour or so.

After chillaxing at the beach, we then returned to the 4wd vehicle to head back to the resort.

Authorities

The Louniel Waterfall resides near the Louniel Village on Tanna Island, Vanuatu. We booked this excursion through our accommodation, which is the White Grass Resort in partnership with the chief of the Louniel Village. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Louniel_001_11262014 - While making our way to Louniel Village, we saw this injured horse right off the side of the road
Louniel_004_11262014 - When we first showed up to Louniel Village, we were welcomed by these three girls who also served as our guides
Louniel_007_11262014 - Looking back at the so-called 'road' that we took from Louniel Village to the Louniel Waterfall trailhead
Louniel_009_11262014 - Julie following our guides down the bush track leading to the Louniel Waterfall
Louniel_017_11262014 - This part of the Louniel Waterfall Trail kind of hugged a bit of a gorge ledge as we went further down towards the bottom of the ravine
Louniel_021_11262014 - This was the steep final descent to the bottom of the ravine as we were next to the Louniel Stream
Louniel_030_11262014 - One of the kids managed to catch this freshwater prawn near the Louniel Waterfall
Louniel_033_11262014 - Broad look at the attractive Louniel Waterfall
Louniel_035_11262014 - The kids first went into the water before the Louniel Waterfall to cool off
Louniel_059_11262014 - Then it was my turn to have a swim and stare up at the pretty Louniel Waterfall
Louniel_075_11262014 - When we were done with the Louniel Waterfall, it was time to make the steep climb back up
Louniel_078_11262014 - Continuing the steep climb out of the gorge from the Louniel Waterfall
Louniel_082_11262014 - By the time we made it to this point, everyone (including the local kids) were breathing heavily from the steep climb out of the gorge after finishing our time at the Louniel Waterfall
Louniel_083_11262014 - From this high up on the climb from the Louniel Waterfall, we were able to glimpse the Pacific Ocean
Louniel_084_11262014 - This was the start of our walk down to Louniel Beach
Louniel_088_11262014 - Now the kids were leading us down a different path to the Louniel Beach
Louniel_091_11262014 - Continuing to follow the kids down to the Louniel Beach
Louniel_095_11262014 - Looking towards the turbulent waters of the South Pacific Ocean at the Louniel Beach
Louniel_097_11262014 - We spotted this cow grazing near the Louniel Beach
Louniel_109_11262014 - Contextual view of the Louniel Beach
Louniel_121_11262014 - Julie enjoying the scenery at the Louniel Beach
Louniel_129_11262014 - All that whitewater from the crashing waves at Louniel Beach kind of gives you an idea of how active the swells are on this side of Tanna Island
Louniel_143_11262014 - One of the kids showing me a fish that she caught with her bare hands at Louniel Beach
Louniel_150_11262014 - Julie climbing back up out of Louniel Beach and to the awaiting 4wd vehicle
Louniel_154_11262014 - Back at the awaiting 4wd vehicle after our time spent at the Louniel Beach
Louniel_155_11262014 - The kids chopping out the husk of a coconut with a machete
Louniel_162_11262014 - While being driven back to Whitegrass Resort, I couldn't help but notice this festive scene at a village somewhere near Louniel Village
Yasur_061_11262014 - Just to give you an idea of how rough the road to Yasur was, perhaps this photo best conveys how rutted and bumpy it can get
Yasur_095_11262014 - We saw an accommodation of treehouses, where you can literally stay on trees at the foot of Mt Yasur
Yasur_102_11262014 - Approaching the active vent of Mt Yasur
Yasur_144_11262014 - Everyone positioning themselves for the Mt Yasur show, but there was definitely an element of danger as Yasur could throw rocks up and past where we were standing (as was the case the Monday before our visit)


Since we didn’t self drive Tanna Island (I’m not even sure that’s possible for most tourists given how undeveloped it was), I’d imagine the Louniel Waterfall would only be accessible by tour.

The trip cost covered fuel and kastom (landowner) fees, and I believe each of us had to spend 6500 vatu.

Louniel_008_11262014 - The 4wd dropping us off at the start of the short hike to the Louniel Waterfall
The 4wd dropping us off at the start of the short hike to the Louniel Waterfall

We spent about 5.5 hours on this tour (including the nearly one-hour transport in each direction as well as the 30-minute drive from the waterfall trailhead to the beach trailhead) starting at 8am and ending at about 1:30pm.

We made sure we left enough time for the separate Mt Yasur twilight excursion (13,125 VT per person), which we believe was the must-do once-in-a-lifetime activity of Tanna Island (let alone Vanuatu itself).

That drive took roughly 2 hours in each direction to get from the White Grass Airport to Mt Yasur’s crater.

We were dropped off about 150m from the active vent (less than 15 minutes walk).

Yasur_101_11262014 - Looking back towards the 4wd car park from the slopes of the Mt Yasur crater
Looking back towards the 4wd car park from the slopes of the Mt Yasur crater

We left the resort at 3pm and returned at about 8:45pm, where the resort accommodated us for the late dinner.

Just to give you an idea of the geography, we stayed on the western side of Tanna Island at the White Grass Ocean Resort and Spa near the airport. We flew here from Port Vila (on the main island of Efate) on a roughly one-hour flight.

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Downstream to upstream sweep of the waterfall seen from a bit downstream of the swimming hole at the base of the falls


Downstream to upstream sweep of Louniel Falls, but this time, it's taken from the plunge pool right at the waterfall's base


On the same day we visited the Louniel Waterfall on Tanna Island, we also went to Mt Yasur at twilight to peer right into its active crater after dark

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Tagged with: louniel, tafea, tanna, vanuatu, waterfall, white grass, yasur, louniel beach, play, swim, swimming, black sand



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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